And as to the place of my birth, forasmuch
as nowadays that is looked upon as a main point of nobility, it was
neither, like Apollo's, in the floating Delos, nor Venus-like on the
rolling sea, nor in any of blind Homer's as blind caves: but in the
Fortunate Islands, where all things grew without plowing or sowing;
where neither labor, nor old age, nor disease was ever heard of; and
in whose fields neither daffodil, mallows, onions, beans, and such
contemptible things would ever grow, but, on the contrary, rue,
angelica, bugloss, marjoram, trefoils, roses, violets, lilies, and
all the gardens of Adonis invite both your sight and your smelling.
And being thus born, I did not begin the world, as other children
are wont, with crying; but straight perched up and smiled on my
mother. Nor do I envy to the great Jupiter the goat, his nurse,
forasmuch as I was suckled by two jolly nymphs, to wit, Drunkenness,
the daughter of Bacchus, and Ignorance, of Pan. And as for such my
companions and followers as you perceive about me, if you have a
mind to know who they are, you are not like to be the wiser for me,
unless it be in Greek: this here, which you observe with that proud
cast of her eye, is Philautia, Self-love; she with the smiling
countenance, that is ever and anon clapping her hands, is Kolakia,
Flattery; she that looks as if she were half asleep is Lethe,
Oblivion; she that sits leaning on both elbows with her hands
clutched together is Misoponia, Laziness; she with the garland on
her head, and that smells so strong of perfumes, is Hedone,
Pleasure; she with those staring eyes, moving here and there, is
Anoia, Madness; she with the smooth skin and full pampered body is
Tryphe, Wantonness; and, as to the two gods that you see with them,
the one is Komos, Intemperance, the other Negretos hypnos, Dead
Sleep. These, I say, are my household servants, and by their
faithful counsels I have subjected all things to my dominion and
erected an empire over emperors themselves. Thus have you had my
lineage, education, and companions.